the lost princess of oz-第8节
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Hank； and finally the Sawhorse drawing the Red Wagon；
in which were seated the Wizard and Dorothy and Button…
Bright and Trot。 No one was obliged to drive the
Sawhorse； so there were no reins to his harness； one
had only to tell him which way to go； fast or slow； and
he understood perfectly。
It was about this time that a shaggy little black dog
who had been lying asleep in Dorothy's room in the
palace woke up and discovered he was lonesome。
Everything seemed very still throughout the great
building and Toto that was the little dog's name
missed the customary chatter of the three girls。 He
never paid much attention to what was going on around
him and； although he could speak； he seldom said
anything； so the little dog didn't know about Ozma's
loss or that everyone had gone in search of her。 But he
liked to be with people； and especially with his own
mistress； Dorothy； and having yawned and stretched
himself and found the door of the room ajar he trotted
out into the corridor and went down the stately marble
stairs to the hall of the palace； where he met Jellia
Jamb。
〃Where's Dorothy？〃 asked Toto。
〃She's gone to the Winkie Country；〃 answered the
maid。
〃When？〃
〃A little while ago；〃 replied Jellia。
Toto turned and trotted out into the palace garden
and down the long driveway until he came to the streets
of the Emerald City。 Here he paused to listen and；
hearing sounds of cheering； he ran swiftly along until
he came in sight of the Red Wagon and the Woozy and the
Lion and the Mule and all the others。 Being a wise
little dog； he decided not to show himself to Dorothy
just then； lest he be sent back home； but he never lost
sight of the party of travelers； all of whom were so
eager to get ahead that they never thought to look
behind them。
When they came to the gates in the city wall the
Guardian of the Gates came out to throw wide the golden
portals and let them pass through。
〃Did any strange person come in or out of the city on
the night before last； when Ozma was stolen？〃 asked
Dorothy。
〃No； indeed； Princess；〃 answered the Guardian of the
Gates。
〃Of course not；〃 said the Wizard。 〃Anyone clever
enough to steal all the things we have lost would not
mind the barrier of a wall like this； in the least。 I
think the thief must have flown through the air； for
otherwise he could not have stolen from Ozma's royal
palace and Glinda's far…away castle in the same night。
Moreover； as there are no airships in Oz and no way for
airships from the outside world to get into this
country； I believe the thief must have flown from place
to place by means of magic arts which neither Glinda
nor I understand。〃
On they went； and before the gates closed behind them
Toto managed to dodge through them。 The country
surrounding the Emerald City was thickly settled and
for a while our friends rode over nicely paved roads
which wound through a fertile country dotted with
beautiful houses； all built in the quaint Oz fashion。
In the course of a few hours； however； they had left
the tilled fields and entered the Country of the
Winkies； which occupies a quarter of all the territory
in the Land of Oz but is not so well known as many
other parts of Ozma's fairyland。 Long before night the
travelers had crossed the Winkie River near to the
Scarecrow's Tower （which was now vacant） and had
entered the Rolling Prairie where few people live。 They
asked everyone they met for news of Ozma； but none in
this district had seen her or even knew that she had
been stolen。 And by nightfall they had passed all the
farmhouses and were obliged to stop and ask for shelter
at the hut of a lonely shepherd。 When they halted； Toto
was not far behind。 The little dog halted； too； and
stealing softly around the party he hid himself behind
the hut。
The shepherd was a kindly old man and treated the
travelers with much courtesy。 He slept out of doors；
that night； giving up his hut to the three girls； who
made their beds on the floor with the blankets they had
brought in the Red Wagon。 The Wizard and Button…Bright
also slept out of doors； and so did the Cowardly Lion
and Hank the Mule。 But Scraps and the Sawhorse did not
sleep at all and the Woozy could stay awake for a month
at a time； if he wished to； so these three sat in a
little group by themselves and talked together all
through the night。
In the darkness the Cowardly Lion felt a shaggy
little form nestling beside his own； and he said
sleepily：
〃Where did you come from； Toto？〃
〃From home；〃 said the dog。 〃If you roll over； roll
the other way； so you won't smash me。〃
〃Does Dorothy know you are here？〃 asked the Lion。
〃I believe not；〃 admitted Toto； and he added； a
little anxiously： 〃Do you think； friend Lion； we are
now far enough from the Emerald City for me to risk
showing myself？ Or will Dorothy send me back because I
wasn't invited？〃
〃Only Dorothy can answer that question；〃 said the
Lion。 〃For my part； Toto； I consider this affair none
of my business； so you must act as you think best。〃
Then the huge beast went to sleep again and Toto
snuggled closer to his warm； hairy body and also slept。
He was a wise little dog； in his way； and didn't intend
to worry when there was something much better to do。
In the morning the Wizard built a fire； over which
the girls cooked a very good breakfast。
Suddenly Dorothy discovered Toto sitting quietly
before the fire and the little girl exclaimed：
〃Goodness me； Toto！ Where did you come from？〃
〃From the place you cruelly left me；〃 replied
the dog in a reproachful tone。
〃I forgot all about you；〃 admitted Dorothy； 〃and if I
hadn't I'd prob'ly left you with Jellia Jamb； seeing
this isn't a pleasure trip but stric'ly business。 But；
now that you're here； Toto； I s'pose you'll have to
stay with us； unless you'd rather go back home again。
We may get ourselves into trouble； before we're done；
Toto。〃
〃Never mind that；〃 said Toto； wagging his tail。 〃I'm
hungry； Dorothy。〃
〃Breakfas'll soon be ready and then you shall have
your share；〃 promised his little mistress； who was
really glad to have her dog with her。 She and Toto had
traveled together before； and she knew he was a good
and faithful comrade。
When the food was cooked and served the girls invited
the old shepherd to join them in their morning meal。 He
willingly consented and while they ate he said to them：
〃You are now about to pass through a very dangerous
country； unless you turn to the north or to the south
to escape its perils。〃
〃In that case；〃 said the Cowardly Lion； 〃let us
turn； by all means； for I dread to face dangers of
any sort。〃
〃What's the matter with the country ahead of us？〃
inquired Dorothy。
〃Beyond this Rolling Prairie；〃 explained the
shepherd； 〃are the Merry…Go…Round Mountains； set close
together and surrounded by deep gulfs； so that no one
is able to get past them。 Beyond the Merry…Go…Round
Mountains it is said the Thistle…Eaters and the Herkus
live。〃
〃What are they like？〃 demanded Dorothy。
〃No one knows； for no one has ever passed the Merry…
Go…Round Mountains；〃 was the reply； 〃but it is said
that the Thistle…Eaters hitch dragons to their chariots
and that the Herkus are waited upon by giants whom they
have conquered and made their slaves。〃
〃Who says all that？〃 asked Betsy。
〃It is common report；〃 declared the shepherd。
〃Everyone believes it。〃
〃I don't see how they know；〃 remarked little Trot；
〃if no one has been there。〃
〃Perhaps the birds who fly over that country brought
the news；〃 suggested Betsy。
〃If you escaped those dangers；〃 continued the
shepherd； 〃you might encounter others still more
serious； before you came to the next branch of the
Winkie River。 It is true that beyond that river there
lies a fine country； inhabited by good people； and if
you reached there you would have no further trouble。 It
is between here and the west branch of the Winkie River
that all dangers lie； for that is the unknown ter
